Display frame



Feb. 4, 1969 G. s. MARX l 3,425,147

DISPLAY FRAME Filed Jan. 26, 1966 INVENTOR GUILHERME S. MARX BY WOL-4MM ATTORNEYS United States ljatent O 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A display frame comprising opposed transparent' panels having grooves parallel to each edge on the outer face thereof and secured together about the object to be displayed by channel border frame members having inwardly turned flanges which are slidingly received in the grooves.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in frames for the display and protection of pictures, coins, and other objects. More particularly, the invention relates to a frame construction having separable elements which can be easily disassembled by the user to allow an article for display to be removed therefrom and replaced.

Picture frames having removable frame elements or border pieces have long been known in the art, however, the same have never been commercially successful since their manipulation has generally required a reasonable amount of skill and frequently the assembled frame has had the appearance of a cheap article of merchandise primarily due to difculty in properly joining the parts together.

The prior art picture frames have not generally provided for the display of both sides of an article, such as a coin, or to -display two pictures, one on each face of the frame assembly. In general, the framing of the picture, has generally been considered as a skilled work in which the framer must properly space the picture Within the framework and enclose the back by use of mats, nails, tape, etc.

The present invention overcomes the difficulties inherent in the prior art and provides a display frame construction which may be easily assembled or disassembled by the user with a minimum of effort and Without the use of hand or power tools or other materials and which will provide the article to be displayed with a relatively dust and moisture proof enclosure.

An object of the present invention is to provide a display frame incorporating slidably removable frame border sections.

Another object of this invention is to provide a display frame incorporating opposed grooved plates adapted to receive a plurality, of slidable border frame elements within the grooves thereof.

A still further object of the instant invention is to provide a display frame adapted to be viewed from either side thereof so as to display several separate articles or the opposite sides of a single article.

A further object of this invention is to provide a display frame which is completely sealed on each side and within which may be displayed a three-dimensional article suspended within the frame.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a picture frame and mount combination which is of simple construction and is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

ICC

Another object of the present invention is to provide a display frame construction which an unskilled user can disassemble and reassemble in a relatively short time.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a frame construction which may be easily boxed and shipped and which will prevent scratching and/or other `damage to the article contained therein.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a picture frame construction which may easily be disassembled and which has transparent plates on each face thereof so as to permit light to be passed therethrough for such purposes as illuminating color transparencies.

A further object of this invention is to provide a readily broken down picture frame construction which is of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, and which requires little skill on the part of the user.

For yet other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate the preferred mode as well as several modifications now contemplated by me for carrying out my invention:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the assembled picture frame;

FIGURE 2 is a enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along lines 2 2 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE -3 is an exploded perspective of elements constituting the display frame and showing a picture therein;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of a first modification of the present invention;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary `cross-sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 is a partial perspective of a second modification of the present invention.

Reference is now made speciiically to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts of the display frame assembly constituting the subject matter of this invention and wherein the frame is designated generally lat 10.

In the preferred embodiment of this invention the display frame consists of two preferably transparent plates 11 and 12. The plates may be made of any transparent material, such as Lucite, Plexiglass, other plastic, or glass. A plastic material is preferred since the same is generally stronger and can be grooved as hereinafter described with little chance of breakage. The plates 11 and 12 are preferably formed of a material which is somewhat flexible and resilient in nature. Each plate 11 and 12 is provided on one face thereof with a longitudinal groove 13 spaced a short distance inwardly from each of the sides of the plate and parallel thereto. The grooves on one side intersects the grooves on adjacent sides and extends from one end to the other of the plate.

The plate elements 11 and 12 are secured together in assembled relation about a picture or other object P to be displayed by means of four border frame elements 14 and 15. Each of the elements 14 and 15 are preferably formed as C-shaped channels of metal either extruded or bent from sheet stock having inwardly turned flanges 16. The pair of side elements 14 are of one length and the top and bottom pair of elements 15 are of another length as can be seen in FIGURE 1 so as to permit the assembly of the elements in abutting relationship about the periphery of the panels 11 and 12.

It will be noted that the dimensions of the flanges 16 are somewhat less than the size of the grooves 13 in the panels so that the elements 14 and 15 may freely slide into place along the grooves without binding. It will also be noted that each of the channel elements, as can be seen in FIGURE 2, is of greater height than the distance between the top groove 13 and the parallel top edge of the panel so as to present a small space between the top edge and the spanning portion 15a of the frame element.

A picture, or other two-dimensional article P to be displayed in the frame, is placed between opposed plates 11 and 12, each having their grooved surface on the outside. The lower border frame member 15 may then be slid in place spanning both panels and having its anges 16 received within the grooves 13. The side elements 14 are then slid into place in a like manner and the top border frame element 15 can then be slid into place completing the frame assembly. Preferably, the dimensions of the channel frame elements are chosen so as to be only slightly wider than the combined width of panels 11 and 12. In this manner, pressure will be imparted against the borders of the plastic panels and due to the resilience and flexibility thereof, the panels will be brought together at their edges totally enclosing the picture or other article and sealing the same against dust and/or moisture. If desired, since both of the panels 11 and 12 are transparent in the preferred embodiment, two pictures may be placed within the panels back-to-back allowing them to. be viewed from either side. It is also contemplated that the corners of border frame elements 14 and 15 may be mitered in conventional fashion if desired, wherein each of the elements 14 and 15 will be of the same length in a square frame.

Any conventional hanger means can be attached to the frame assembly, and in FIGURES 1 and 2, by way of example, a wire has been inserted within the space between the top of the panels and the channel element 15a and is then bent into a loop which can be received on a conventional wall fastener. If desired, a screw eye type of fastener as shown at 17 in FIGURE 6 could be employed.

By use of the flanged channel border frame members, unintentional disassembly of the frame by having a channel snap off is obviated and a secure compact arrangement, pleasing to the eye is provided. Yet, if desired, the article P displayed in the frame assembly may be readily replaced with a minimum of effort and no tools.

The proposed arrangement lends itself to many modifications in display which are limited only by the imagination of the user. For example, intermediate sheets of colored paper may be used between the panels 11 and 12 and cut out to define an opening for reception of the article P to be displayed. With such an arrangement, the colored paper serves as a mat or intermediate framing for the article.

The same general assembly is easily adapted for the display of three-dimensional articles, such as coins, or relatively thick prints in a manner shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. In the modification shown in these figures, the article to be displayed is a coin; C. Interposed between plates 11 and 12 is a spacer member 18 having an opening cut therethrough of a size slightly larger than the article to be displayed. In the example shown, a cylindrical cut-out is made in the spacer member 18 having a diameter just slightly larger than the coin C. If desired, the spacer member may be transparent in which case the display will give the esthetic effect of the coin being suspended in space. On the other hand, the spacer member 18 may be opaque and may be of any color desired. When the border frame elements 14 and 15 are slid into place in the modified assembly, the spacer member 18 is held tightly in engagement with the inner faces of plates 11 and 12 as shown in FIGURE 5 and the coin C is totally protected from both dust and moisture in a man- -ner similar-to that previously described. The particular utility of this modification is apparent, especially if an object such as a coin or medal is to be displayed, since both the face of the object and the reverse side are exposed to view.

A further modification of the invention is shown in FIGURE 6. This adaptation is designed to display an article such as a piece of jewelry or the like in suspended fashion between the panels 11 and 12. In this construction, a border spacer member 19, preferably of T cross section, is placed between the panels and having its arms 20 bearing upon the top edges of panels 11 and 12. A plurality of holes 21 are formed vertically through the spacer 19 and are adapted to receive the ends of a suspension cord 22 therethrough. The cord may be knotted at its ends as at 23 on the outside of spacer 19 to retain the same in the spacer member. The article to be displayed J, may be suspended or otherwise secured to the dependent catenary portion of cord 22. In this modification a slightly deeper border frame element 151 is provided and is slid in place in the grooves 13 as previously described. In this form an eye hook 17 is shown attached to the top border frame element 151 although other conventional hanger means could be used as well.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, as well as two modifications thereof, it is to be understood that the drawings and detailed disclosure are to be construed in an illustrative rather than a limiting sense, since various modifications and substitutions of equivalents may be made by those skilled in the art within the spirit and scope of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A display frame comprising a pair of opposed panels at least one of which is transparent, said panels being adapted to receive therebetween an article to be displayed, each of said panels having a groove on its outer face parallel to, coextensive with and spaced inwardly from each edge, and a plurality of channel border frame members, flange means on each side of said frame members adapted to be slidably received in said grooves, said frame members being engaged over the ends of and spanning said opposed panels to secure the same in position.

2. A display frame as defined in claim 1, wherein said panels are formed from a plastic material having a limited degree of flexibility and of a dimension larger on each side than said article, the inside width of said frame members -being greater than the width of said opposed panels by a distance less than the thickness of the article to be displayed whereby the panels will be subject to bending forces adjacent their edges and will be in tight faceto-face sealing contact at the edges.

3. A display frame as defined in claim 1, wherein a space is defined between the top of the opposed panels and the associated frame members.

v4. A display frame as defined in claim 1, and further including an intermediate spacer member between said panels, and a cut out in said spacer member adapted to receive the article to be displayed.

5. A display frame as defined in claim 4, wherein said spacer member is opaque.

6. A display frame 'as defined in claim 1, and further including a border spacing adapter for each side of said frame, said adapter being of T cross section and interposed between said panels with the arms of the T resting on the respective top edges of the two associated panels, and suspension means attached to at least one of said adapters to suspend an article to be displayed within said frame.

7. A display frame comprising a pair of rectangular opposed transparent panels, said panels receiving therebetween an article to be displayed, each of said panels having a groove on its outer face co-extensive with and parallel to each of its edges, two pairs of channel border frames, each pair |being of a different length, said frames being generally of U cross section and having inwardly directed anges at the ends of the U arms, said anges being adapted to be slidably received in said grooves with the base of the U spanning the edges of the associated panels securing the same in position.

8. A display frame as defined in claim 7, and further including an intermediate spacer member between said panels, and a cut out in said spacer member adapted to receive the article to be displayed.

9. A display frame as defined in claim 7, and further including a border spacing adapter for each side of said frame, said adapter being of T cross section and interposed 'between said panels with the arms of the T resting on the respective top edges of the two associated panels, :and suspension means attached to at least one of said adapters to suspend an article to be displayed within said frame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

WENCESLAO J. CONTRERAS, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 40-10 

